UPDATE: Asian Gothic Literature (2/29/04; collection)

full name / name of organization:

ng hock soon

contact email:

ng.hock.soon@engsci.monash.edu.my

I am writing this to clarify some points concerning this proposedproject for a collection of critical writings on Asian Gothicliterature.=20Firstly, a simplistic application of the Gothic to contemporary Asianliterature is discouraged. Although much Asian writing deals with issuesrevolving around taboo, excess and transgression of various kinds, todeem this as automatically Gothic would be uncritical.Secondly, it is encouraged that a study of Gothic poetics and the waythey manifest itself in Asian text be undertaken. Some of the familiarGothic tropes like the repressed, the uncanny, the numinous, ghosts andspectres, radical evil etc. can be explored, but again, with carefuldeliberation as to how the texts are deploying these tropes in adistinctly (if possible) Asian way. For example, in the case ofrepression, exactly how do Asian texts deal with this issue? How much ofit resembles, or detracts from, the Western tale of repression? What canbe surmised from this resemblance/dissimilarity?Work on =91Gothic=92 literatures from India, China, Korea, South East =Asia,and the Middle East are strongly encouraged.=20The deadline still stands at the end of February, after which I willbegin compiling. Please email abstract and brief CV tong.hock.soon_at_engsci.monash.edu.my or andrwng_at_yahoo.com by then.=20Cheers